VANCOUVER, Wash. — Ed Barnes, a retired business manager of IBEW Local 48, is a finalist to succeed Steve Stuart on the Clark County Board of Commissioners.
Stuart, a Democrat, resigned his District 3 seat this month for a job as Ridgefield city manager. His term as Clark County commissioner expires at the end of this year, which means the seat is up for election in November.
Under Washington law, the political party of the resigning county official must submit a list of three names to the Board of Commissioners, in order of preference, to complete the term.
Clark County Democrats chose Craig Pridemore, a former county commissioner and former state senator as their top choice. They picked Kelly Parker, president of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and a former news reporter for KGW Channel 8 in Portland, as their second choice. Barnes was their third choice. Both Parker and Barnes support Pridemore, and Pridemore intends to run for election.
Now it’s up to Clark County Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke, both Republicans, to select the replacement. They have 60 days to do so. The clock started ticking April 7.
If the commissioners do not make an appointment in that time, the governor makes the choice.
